Did you know that yoga is one of the world’s most popular form of exercise? According to a 2012 survey, 20.4 million people in America alone are practicing yoga for better health! It’s been a couple of years since then, but yoga still remains popular among fitness enthusiasts and new practitioners alike.
In fact, before coming across this article, you may have already heard about yoga and its many health benefits. If millions are into yoga, then getting into a downward dog position must be one of the secrets to better health, right? Not so fast.
These statistics alone shouldn’t be the only reasons why you should try yoga. Despite its popularity, there’s still a lot of research that needs to be done, particularly around the long-term effects of yoga on one’s health.
The good news is, the information that we do have on yoga shows promising results. But before we dive into the science behind the benefits of yoga, let’s first refresh our minds and find out what yoga really is and what it isn’t…
Yoga Basics: Everything You Need To Know
In comparison to other forms of exercise, yoga is perhaps one of the few that have a long ancient history. Textbooks say that yoga originated from ancient India, but currently, there is no evidence that can support that claim yet.
But here’s what we do know: yoga is an exercise for both the mind and the body. It has various styles such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Hatha just to name a few. Each of which has its own focus, whether physical or a more meditative approach and difficulty levels are also varied.
Contrary to what most people think, yoga is not limited to spiritual or religious practices. Just because you do yoga, that doesn’t mean that you need to change your religion. Fasting, for example, is part of Christian practice during Holy Week. But there are those who are committed intermittent fasting as part of their diet.
Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Yoga
You’ve probably first heard about yoga as a type of physical workout. But if you ask a yogi, they’d tell you that it is more than that; it is a full workout of the body and mind.
To those who have experienced the many health benefits of yoga, their practice isn’t just an exercise routine. It’s a way of life; a state of mind. For those of us who have yet to understand, on the other hand, we look to science to explain it all for us. Here’s what medical experts have to say about yoga…
Improves Flexibility
There aren’t a lot of exercises that work on releasing tension from the muscles. On the contrary, most types of workouts cause tightness around the muscles, especially when one isn’t careful about executing the correct stances or posture.
It’s a different story for yoga, as it requires movements and poses that stretch the muscles. As mentioned before, yoga has different types and levels of intensity. But at the end of the day, yoga is all about building flexibility and strength. In fact, a study discovered a significant improvement in flexibility among participants who committed to just 10 weeks of yoga.
Cure Chronic Pain
According to statistics, about 50 million people in America are living with chronic pain. Despite countless medical research, finding a definite cure is still a challenge due to its numerous possible causes. The good news is, research has also found that yoga may be a potential solution to curing chronic pain.
In this study, yoga helped reduce pain and improved the grip of individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome. Another finding from a 2005 research discovered that yoga significantly decreased pain among patients with osteoarthritis.
Improve Your Breathing
Many people often overlook the importance of improving their breathing during workouts. But learning proper breathing is more than just executing a workout correctly. Practicing on your breathing can help you strengthen your lungs; those with asthma or heart disease may benefit greatly from yoga’s breathing exercises.
Studies show that practicing pranayama or yogic breathing is good for overall respiratory health. In one study, students were asked to perform yoga exercises incorporating pranayama. After 15 weeks of the study, results show that their vital capacity (the amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs) has significantly increased.
Reduce Stress And Anxiety
Plenty of people practice yoga not just for its physical benefits, but also for its healing and meditative effects. Individuals who experience stress and anxiety find it easier to cope with the help of yoga. But don’t just take their word for it – research also shows that yoga can help individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. According to that study, 2 months of yoga practice already show lower levels of anxiety.
Science can’t tell us exactly how yoga is able to achieve this, but data proves that it is an effective solution to reducing stress and anxiety.
Sleep Better
Sleep is an essential part of life. Without proper sleep, the body loses energy and is then vulnerable to various illnesses. In fact, a lack of beauty sleep has been said to be associated with depression and obesity.
But all hope is not lost; researches have found that yoga workouts could help you get better quality sleep. According to scientific research, found that yoga increases melatonin in the body. Thanks to an increase in melatonin, the hormone that regulates wakefulness and sleep, yoga can help individuals sleep faster and longer.
Is Yoga Good For You?
With so many health benefits backed by science, it is without a doubt that yoga is worth a try. The benefits listed above are just some of the things you can benefit from practicing yoga. Further research is still being developed as we speak. But if you ask us, the best thing about it is that anyone can do yoga. No matter you’re looking for a full-body workout our a more low-impact, meditative experience, you can achieve both through yoga.